Landscape Design
Patio of the Week
Yard of the Week: Low-Water Landscape With a Natural Pool
A landscape designer contacted through Houzz turns a lawn into a biodiverse haven with plenty of visual interest
One of the most influential contemporary landscape designers, Dutch designer Piet Oudolf, says that in his projects he seeks beauty through orderly designs reminiscent of nature. What seems simple enough when summarized quickly is neither obvious nor, of course, easy to implement.
In this landscape belonging to a villa in Las Rozas, Madrid, Spain, landscaper designer Santiago Herrero de Egaña has interpreted the landscape without undue grandeur, transforming it into a more sustainable and biodiverse space that feels like a natural part of its surroundings.
In this landscape belonging to a villa in Las Rozas, Madrid, Spain, landscaper designer Santiago Herrero de Egaña has interpreted the landscape without undue grandeur, transforming it into a more sustainable and biodiverse space that feels like a natural part of its surroundings.
Golf, Oaks and Incredible Sunsets
The same owner tells us that the first time she saw the landscape, she liked the possibilities it offered: the views over the gentle hills of the neighboring golf course, the oak trees at the back and the stunning sunsets.
It all sounds like a fairy tale, but the original landscape of this typical, single-story 1970s Madrid villa had a couple of drawbacks: a steep slope at the back of the house and too much lawn.
The same owner tells us that the first time she saw the landscape, she liked the possibilities it offered: the views over the gentle hills of the neighboring golf course, the oak trees at the back and the stunning sunsets.
It all sounds like a fairy tale, but the original landscape of this typical, single-story 1970s Madrid villa had a couple of drawbacks: a steep slope at the back of the house and too much lawn.
Conscious of their surroundings, the homeowners didn’t want to visually separate themselves from the golf course. Beyond that, they were looking for a landscape that looked natural, would require little water and would allow them to stroll through it. In short, they wanted to completely reinterpret the space.
Among many other changes, the grassy areas were reduced by 90%. Where there used to be nearly half an acre (more than 2,000 square meters) of lawn, there are now 2,690 square feet (250 square meters).
15 Ways to Create a Beautiful Water-Wise Landscape
Among many other changes, the grassy areas were reduced by 90%. Where there used to be nearly half an acre (more than 2,000 square meters) of lawn, there are now 2,690 square feet (250 square meters).
15 Ways to Create a Beautiful Water-Wise Landscape
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After: The entrance is now surrounded by native plants and a sandy parking area. This area is well integrated into the landscape so it can be used for other purposes — for example, for throwing a party. “It’s a green entranceway, not a garage,” Herrero de Egaña says.
7 Landscape Design Ideas to Replace a Traditional Lawn
7 Landscape Design Ideas to Replace a Traditional Lawn
A Complex Layout
“As mentioned, the topography of the [landscape] was relatively complicated. It was a fairly steep space, and slopes lead to movement, not stillness,” Herrero de Egaña says. “It was necessary to design the terrain in such a way as to balance recreational and transitional spaces.”
They also wanted create some privacy without giving up the views. “We had to plan the layout so as to enjoy not only privacy, but also views. In some parts of the [landscape], you wouldn’t know where it starts and where it ends. This has been achieved with a garden trick: the ha-ha, a type of sunken moat, common in the eighteenth century, that separates the garden area from the rest of the grounds. It involves digging a deep trench, lined with a stone or brick wall on the interior side,” the designer says.
“As mentioned, the topography of the [landscape] was relatively complicated. It was a fairly steep space, and slopes lead to movement, not stillness,” Herrero de Egaña says. “It was necessary to design the terrain in such a way as to balance recreational and transitional spaces.”
They also wanted create some privacy without giving up the views. “We had to plan the layout so as to enjoy not only privacy, but also views. In some parts of the [landscape], you wouldn’t know where it starts and where it ends. This has been achieved with a garden trick: the ha-ha, a type of sunken moat, common in the eighteenth century, that separates the garden area from the rest of the grounds. It involves digging a deep trench, lined with a stone or brick wall on the interior side,” the designer says.
After: Despite the major excavation work to completely reshape the landscape, most of the vegetation was retained.
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
The owner said that what she and her husband wanted most of all was a landscape with native plants and less lawn. The stairs in the previous photo lead down to the garden partially pictured here.
Respect for the Oaks
Oak trees sit at the back of the property. The owner says that this area has been left largely untouched, though the landscape designer did create a small grass clearing to make it possible to enjoy the oaks. The owner tells us how much she enjoys spending time here.
Oak trees sit at the back of the property. The owner says that this area has been left largely untouched, though the landscape designer did create a small grass clearing to make it possible to enjoy the oaks. The owner tells us how much she enjoys spending time here.
The back of the landscape revels in the mountain scenery typical of this area: a native holm oak grove, where several paths lead to two large wooden platforms where the owners can take in the scenery or relax with a book.
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This other narrow path leads to the planted area at the front of the house, where the owners enjoy the beautiful sunsets.
This platform is “like a dock that extends up to the house,” the designer says, who sees docks as a connecting element — as opposed to stairs, which he interprets as a dividing feature.
The Star of the Landscape: The Natural Pool
“A lot of soil had to be moved to create the natural pool, which has taken up most of the garden area,” Herrero de Egaña says.
“A lot of soil had to be moved to create the natural pool, which has taken up most of the garden area,” Herrero de Egaña says.
The pool is at the back of the property, where the owners had no clear request for the space.
Herrero de Egaña says that he decided to put the pool here “to balance the garden aesthetically so that all of the points of interest would not be in the same place. In my opinion, when designing a garden, it is important to create a sense of continual discovery,” he says.
Herrero de Egaña says that he decided to put the pool here “to balance the garden aesthetically so that all of the points of interest would not be in the same place. In my opinion, when designing a garden, it is important to create a sense of continual discovery,” he says.
Natural pools, which are relatively common in some European countries, are not chlorinated and have the advantage of becoming a focal point for biodiversity. “They are not suitable for all clients, but they did suit these homeowners. On the other hand, you have to displace more earth for these pools than normal ones because they have two components: the bathing pool and the purification pool,” Herrero de Egaña says.
The plants closest to the pool offer year-round interest. “The vegetation changes with the seasons, and in spring and summer, the surroundings are spectacular,” the designer says.
There is a point where some plants, such as lilies, seem to reach into the water.
Much of the charm of this natural pool lies in the fact that there are no rigid transitions like in a normal swimming pool. For example, the pool is framed by the wooden walkway leading to the deck chairs, rather than a stiff border. The planks of this walkway hide the pool’s skimmers.
Much of the charm of this natural pool lies in the fact that there are no rigid transitions like in a normal swimming pool. For example, the pool is framed by the wooden walkway leading to the deck chairs, rather than a stiff border. The planks of this walkway hide the pool’s skimmers.
“In reality, this natural pool responds to the idea of a swimming pool and its geometric shape, at the request of the clients, who are swimmers,” Herrero de Egaña says. From the platform, you can jump into the water or walk over to the olive tree.
A Garden Rooted in the Landscape
The owners grow a variety of fruits and vegetables in the garden, from strawberries to watermelons and leeks.
The owners grow a variety of fruits and vegetables in the garden, from strawberries to watermelons and leeks.
“At first, the clients planned to make the garden themselves,” Herrero de Egaña says. “I told them that it was better to make it part of the garden’s design and layout. In addition, it had to be on level ground and have four zones for crop rotation. Aesthetically, it is like a convent garden: something older, more rooted in the landscape.”
10 Steps to Get Your Edible Garden Started
10 Steps to Get Your Edible Garden Started
When the leeks are not picked in time, they yield these round seedheads for the next sewing.
A Delightful Garden That Changes With the Day
The owners love to spend time in the clearing at the back of the yard, looking at the oaks. They also tell us that they enjoy swimming in the pool, which feels like being in a beautiful river among flowers, or reading on the platform while taking in the golf course, the skyline and the sunset.
The owners love to spend time in the clearing at the back of the yard, looking at the oaks. They also tell us that they enjoy swimming in the pool, which feels like being in a beautiful river among flowers, or reading on the platform while taking in the golf course, the skyline and the sunset.
During the interview, Herrero de Egaña never set aside his notebook, which he uses to sketch and take notes of the views and other details of the landscapes he designs. For him, this was an exciting project. “The clients were looking for a landscape designer who would not only interpret the space, but also make it more sustainable and biodiverse. Clients and professionals aren’t always completely in sync. But, in this project, the clients and professional were very much in tune,” he says.
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Landscape at a Glance
Location: Las Rozas, Madrid, Spain
Size: About three-quarters of an acre (3,000 square meters)
Landscape designer: Santiago Herrero de Egaña of Paisajes Pensados
We photographed the property on a warm summer afternoon. One of the owners, who asked to remain anonymous, tells us that she used Houzz to contact her landscape design professional and says that the project was successful and that the collaboration went smoothly.
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